What are your thoughts between the two styles? The flat bed would be more versatile in that you can add low (12-24") sides or full sides (stake bed). The regular bed has the ability to be easily covered with a cap or tonneau, protects your cargo from wind better, and looks stock. When people see a flatbed they automatically think a construction company owns it. I'm looking at an older diesel for personal/farm use and am trying to decide between the two bed styles.

 

If you are using the truck for farm use I would say to go with the flatbed. It is more versatile than the regular bed, just make sure you have everything securely tied down.

 

I went for the regular bed, because it is generally easier for the light hauling I do. I never haul anything that gets forked onto the truck, so that isn't a consideration. Also, I think that newer, smaller bodystyle trucks (like mine) look better with the factory bed.

For farm use, though, I might be tempted to go with the flatbed, depending on what you're using it for.

 

I'm no farmer, but one of my step-grandfather's was, so I goofed around on the farm a bit. And I second the flatbed. It's a lot easier to load and unload just about anything.

 

see for me i would have to say go for the flat bed i know for me theres times i wish i had a flat bed

 

I would prefer a regular bed unless equipment and such is being loaded with a fork truck, or when towing a gooseneck trailer consistantly than a good metal fabricated flatbed would be called for. Other than functional reasons, they just look goofy.

 

> I'm looking at an older diesel for personal/farm use

If you are going to be putting firewood, gravel, and manure in it, then a flatbed is the best. How about if you try to haul a deer body into the bed? Having a nice winch setup and ramps (or crane) on a flatbed and being able to wash the blood out afterwards is good.

How about if you decide to put a dump bed on the truck to save unloading time?

WAY easier to get a ATV into a flatbed then a normal pickup truck, especially if you have to lash it down.

 

Flatbed. Some have low sides you can fold up/down or stake-type sides you can remove. Bed sides just get in the way for farm/ranch use IMO.

 

Depends what the task is. With stake pockets side are simple, and can be removed fairly easily, that makes a flatbed very usable. I have a flatbed on my 79 works great.

 

For farm use it is hard to beat a flat bed especially one with removable side boards. The regular bed IMHO usually looks better but a flatbed provides more function in the farm setting.

 

Flatbed all the way here...

 

I live on a farm. I have both. Or did anyways. I perfer the flatbed for workiong around there. Much more versatile. But i also like boxed out bed. Because i can just throw my back pack in my truck bed/ w/e i need to throw in there. And not really haft to worry abou things flying out.

 

Flatbed. I think it would be much easier to load and unload stuff into.

Believe it or not....I am 6'5" tall, and I CAN NOT reach the middle of the bed on my F150. And it's not lifted either...just has 32's on it.

I will have a custom bed made for my truck some day...

 

A flatbed is the best mod for a work pickup, IMO. It is so much easier to get things in and out of, and you can haul large things without the fenderwells or bedsides getting in the way. Also, it can take a beating, and it will not look too bad afterwards. Some people do not understand the flatbed, but most change their mind when they start using a work pickup with one. My dad bought a flatbed with a haybale fork for his pickup a few years ago. To say the least, it was worth the money. I don't think that they look too bad on a 3/4 ton pickup, and a dually with a flatbed looks awesome. I wish I had one on the Dodge.

 

i can second that flat beds look goofy on little trucks, plenty of rusted out little yotas running around here. ive also seen a few flat beds on brand new trucks that looked out of place, weird looking modern areodynamic new truck with a wooden flat bed on it. i will admit nothing is cooler than a old diesel with a flatbed and stacks.